SWANSBORO — The Swansboro Area Development Foundation continues to show its support for one of the biggest community projects for the town.

President Dr. Tina Siegel and SADF members attended the March meeting of the Board of Commissioners to present the town with a check for $15,000.

The money is the latest installment toward the foundation’s pledge of $100,000 for the construction of the new Swansboro Recreation Center, which opened in January.

The recreation center is the centerpiece of major upgrades that have taken place at Municipal Park.

The town received a $500,000 grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to help the town complete $1 million in major improvements at the 17-acre park.

The foundation stepped up in the beginning to back the project and has now raised $85,000 toward its pledge.

“Little by little we’ve been raising money for the project by offering events and activities for the community,” Siegel said.

Fundraising events for April include the April 12 event Find Your Inner Picasso, an adult painting night, and a comedy night on April 27.

After several years of fundraising for the project, seeing the recreation center now in use by the public has been an exciting reward, Siegel said.

“It has been a treasured project and everybody loves it,” she said.

As the foundation nears its pledge commitment, it is also contributing to the recreation project with the construction of a courtyard at the side entrance of the center.

The focal point of the courtyard is an honor/memorial brick wall made from donor bricks the public can buy to pay tribute to friends and family in the community.

An initial order of 110 commemorative bricks helped to build the center wall that includes seating, and additional bricks are being sold for two side walls yet to be built.

Kendra Plymel of Rush Construction in Jacksonville donated labor to complete the initial wall, and users of the neighboring skateboard park will help in putting up a shade tree for the courtyard, Siegel said.

“The whole community is getting involved,” she said.

Details on the courtyard wall and how to purchase bricks can be found on the foundation’s website at sadfnc.org.